What You Can Control
I recently had a conversation with a 16-year-old young man who has faced more in his life than most of us ever will. His story isn’t one of ease or comfort—it’s one of survival. He’s had to grow up fast, often taking care of himself when others couldn’t. There were moments when giving up would have been the easiest path.
And yet, here he is, working a job, staying in school, and talking about his future with quiet determination. His goal? To go to college and build a life that looks different from the one he was handed.
What struck me most wasn’t just his resilience; it was his clarity. Somewhere along the way, without formal teaching or a roadmap, he learned one of life’s most important lessons: there are things he can control, and things he cannot.
He can’t control the family he was born into. He can’t rewrite the hardships he’s endured. But he can control what he does each day. He can control his effort, his attitude, and the choices he makes moving forward.
So often, we get stuck pouring energy into what we can’t change… other people, past circumstances, unfair situations. But when we shift our focus to what is within our control, we begin to move forward.
Here are three things to consider when making that shift:
Create a clear plan. When you know what you can control, you can map out your next steps.
Take one step at a time. Big goals can feel overwhelming, but progress is built through small, consistent actions.
Stay with it until you see progress. This is where determination matters. Consistency over time is what separates intention from transformation.
When I think back to that young man, I’m reminded that he didn’t wait for his circumstances to change—he chose to change what he could control. Because of that, his story is still being written…with hope, effort, and purpose.
When we choose to shift from hopelessness to controlling what we can control with determination, we will make a difference.
Larry
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